National Approach in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

Since the outbreak of the New Corona Virus in Wuhan, China and its spreading to Iran, first cases<br />of COVID-19 positive were identified in Qom, Iran and in a short period of time many other main<br />provinces including Isfahan, Tehran, Markazi, and Semnan were also infected with the virus shortly<br />after that in all 31 provinces the virus spread.1 Super Spreading power of this disease is the reason<br />why we have many infected people daily and according to global epidemiological information, the<br />number of infected people will reach to 74877 in April 15,2020.2 like many other countries, Iran started<br />medical and hygienic measures with the establishment of a National committee for fighting Corona<br />Virus. Our country imposed limited commuting to religious, recreational places and trading centers,<br />closed schools and universities, decreased working hours, and cleaned crowded areas and passageways<br />with disinfectants (subway stations, bus stations, and gas stations). Other efforts include: Establishing<br />outposts in order to identify cases of Corona Virus at City entrances and Telephone screening through<br />4030"that is a hotline for COVID-19 detection and providing relevant health information1." Despite the<br />necessary precautions taken, there were problems in fighting the Corona Disease, the most important<br />of which include: Insufficiency regarding personal protective equipment like masks, disinfectants and<br />hospital gowns,3 Inadequate number of hospital beds and equipment in some of the cities and shortage<br />of health workers. This issue has caused a high concern in the society and amongst the health workers<br />who take care of Corona virus cases in hospitals. Also, due to the experienced mental disorders of<br />the health care workers while COVID-19 outbreak,4 the role of such shortages in the fight against this<br />disease is crucial. In a situation like this where the number of infected people shoots up, hygienic needs<br />of Iran increases, too. A new trend in fighting the disease has begun. In this trend, different groups of<br />people like clerics and cleric students, Basij, medical and non-medical students have taken measures<br />in fighting the Corona Virus which are in line with the World health organization and Ministry of<br />Health and Medical Education standards. These measures are taken in 4 general areas, including:<br />1. disinfecting the pssageways (Streets, Alleys), highly populated areas (Trading Centers, Bus and<br />Subway stations, Gas stations) and vehicles, 2. producing personal protective equipment (Masks, face<br />shields, gowns and disinfectants), 3. helping with the Telephone Screening by Medical students, and<br />4. Volunteer medical students participation in health care centers and hospitals.<br />Now, despite the exigent circumstances regarding the spread of COVID-19 worldwide,<br />volunteer measures and organized activities in Iran have led to provision of telephone screening<br />information and details about the COVID-19 to more than 65 million people until March 31, 2020;5<br />and production of thousands of hygienic products daily has had a significant role in controlling<br />and fighting the Corona Virus Pandemic. Although in the early period of the virus outbreak,<br />Iran was the third country to have the most cases of Corona positive cases after China and Korea<br />until 2nd of March, and the number of identified cases increased in April 15, 2020 which might<br />be due to the efficient and comprehensive screening process, it became the 8th country with the<br />most positive cases of Corona after the United States, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, England,<br />and China.2 It is also expected that with adequate health equipment, specialized human resources<br />and provision of scientific information to the community, the public and health workers who take<br />care of Corona virus cases will have tranquility.<br />Therefore, Iran’s approach towards facing the COVID-19 clearly states the fact that national<br />approach in fighting the Corona Virus is an important factor among other measures taken and it<br />is mentioned as a modern approach in managing a health crisis in a large scale.

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